Dendritic structures by glass electrolysis: Studies and SERS capability

Abstract We have grown silver dendrites by electrolysis of silver-to-sodium ion-exchanged silicate glass slides. The DC voltage of 150 and 300 V was applied to thin film coplanar electrodes deposited on the slide surface. Exposing the silver structures with weak etchant resulted in some increase in optical absorption and in the essential enhancement of Raman scattering, by the factor of ∼106-107. The solid state nature of the glass-dendrite system provided stability of the formed structures, and the prepared SERS substrates did not require special conditions for storage, but a short etching before use.